Henry Pollock has issued a sharp six-word response after Sir Clive Woodward branded him a \u201cliability\u201d in the wake of England\u2019s defeat to France.<\/p>\n
\u2b50 Save us to your Google Favourites <\/a>for nonstop RUCK content!<\/p>\n Woodward, writing in his\u00a0Daily Mail\u00a0column<\/a>, questioned both Pollock\u2019s performance and his on-field behaviour in Paris.<\/p>\n \u201cI would definitely sit down Henry Pollock for more than a chat. All players have to do their talking on the pitch,\u201d Woodward wrote.<\/p>\n He added:<\/p>\n \u201cPollock\u2019s baiting of the French crowd would have been fine if he had been on from the start and was delivering a world-class performance. But he hadn\u2019t, and then he threw a silly pass which gave France the ball back, and from it Thomas Ramos\u2019 penalty won them the game.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is a brilliant player and I would want the real Pollock in the team, but not the current one who is fast becoming a liability. That has to change and quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n While Pollock has yet to respond directly to Woodward\u2019s latest criticism, his stance on similar backlash has already been made crystal clear.<\/p>\n After being called out by Schalk Burger, the England forward delivered a defiant six-word message that still reflects his mindset now:<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care, I\u2019ll be me.\u201d<\/p>\n Pollock previously doubled down on that attitude when addressing criticism of his celebrations and confrontational edge.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously the celebration is just who I am,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not going to change wherever I go. I\u2019m just trying to be the best person and best player I can be, personally and for the team.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess becoming a target, I don\u2019t really care too much.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether Woodward\u2019s comments spark a fresh response remains to be seen \u2014 but if history is anything to go by, Pollock is unlikely to change his approach any time soon.<\/p>\n EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n Rugby has always thrived on confrontation, edge, and personality. The same traits that make players \u092e\u0939\u093e\u0928 to their own fans often make them deeply unpopular with everyone else. Whether it\u2019s needle on the pitch, controversial moments off it, or simply an ability to get under opponents\u2019 skin, some players attract far more criticism than others.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a ranking of six of the most talked-about\u2014and often most disliked\u2014figures in the modern game, counting down from 6 to 1.<\/p>\n 6. Henry Pollock (England)<\/p>\n Still early in his career, Henry Pollock is already building a reputation as a classic agitator. His game is built on energy and confrontation, but it\u2019s his\u00a0celebrations and on-field antics\u00a0that have drawn attention.<\/p>\n Pollock has been noted for:<\/p>\n Celebrating turnovers and big moments directly in front of opponents<\/p>\n Visible, animated reactions to decisions<\/p>\n Constant niggle around the breakdown<\/p>\n There\u2019s no major controversy here\u2014just a player who enjoys the dark arts. For now, he sits at the bottom of this list: more irritating than truly disliked, but clearly heading toward \u201cwind-up merchant\u201d status if it continues.<\/p>\n 5. Stuart Hogg (Scotland)<\/p>\n Once widely admired as one of the most exciting fullbacks in world rugby, Stuart Hogg\u2019s reputation has become far more complicated in recent years.<\/p>\n While his on-field brilliance earned him Lions selection and Scotland captaincy, criticism has grown due to:<\/p>\n Disciplinary issues during his Scotland career<\/p>\n Public spats with fans on social media<\/p>\n More recently, serious off-field legal allegations, which he denies<\/p>\n The shift is notable: Hogg was previously respected even by rivals, but recent headlines have altered how many fans view him. The dislike now stems less from rugby and more from his off-field profile.<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n